Forum Format Clarification

[Derrek]

I am unfamiliar with the format of this new forum. Could someone explain the difference between the "Forums" box and the "Topics" box and what if any relation there is between them?

Thanks.

[rbowser]

I am unfamiliar with the format of this new forum. Could someone explain the difference between the "Forums" box and the "Topics" box and what if any relation there is between them?

Thanks.

I think it's a really good question, Derrek. I've been involved here for a couple of weeks, and the division of "Forums" and "Topics" really isn't clear to me either.

I guess the idea is that everything below the dividing line in the "Topics" area is like a general discussion area with threads that aren't so easily categorized into the "Forums" section where specific topics are listed - except "Off Topic"--which could possibly seem like the same thing "Topics" is.

But we can see that there are threads in the "Topics" area which could have been posted in various Forums, if that had been clear to the original posters. Examples are "AAX compatibility" which could have been in the Troubleshooting Forum, and "Michael Memo 1" and "Using Garritan Instruments Live" both of which could have been in the Tips and Techniques Forum.

I think seeing posts scattered in various places is an indication that nobody is understanding what these divisions were intended to mean!

Randy

[Michael.B]

I was going to ask this question myself.

Looking at the Forum Headings, these could cater for just about all subjects without the 'Topics Forum'.

Also, the 'Forum Media Room' has for its description:

[Quote]
Share your creative content with the Garritan community
[Unquote]

The term "creative content" is very broad and suggests any images, audio or video we have created that may or may not involve Garritan or MakeMusic tools. Although being in the 'official' MakeMusic Garritan Forums would 'hint' that maybe they should involve these products .. or does it?

For example, when posting my video; 'A Performance With A Difference', both my dear lady and I hovered over the Forum Headings deciding whether it should be in the 'Media Room' or the 'Topics Forum' or 'Off Topic'.

The video is one I videoed myself with a hand held camcorder of an unusual quartet of musicians. So with the terms 'Music', 'Media' and 'Creative' in mind it certainly qualifies for the Media Room - the caveat being non MakeMusic or Garritan.

Anyway, to play safe and not cause any offence I placed it herein the 'Off Topic' where it's had no replies ... sob!

There are plenty of other examples where it seems that they would belong in different forums. Our forums are still very young and, hopefully, as time moves on things will become clearer.

[rbowser]

...where it's had no replies ... sob!...

Well that got me over there in a flash! Michael - I never noticed that post - never saw a notification for it. I'll post a reply there!

--Side note - I've noticed several times that you've been using a quote code that isn't working. Select something and click the Quote button in the menu, you'll see that the ending tag is (without the spaces) [ / quote] You're not using the slash mark, so we're seeing the code.

Randy

[Fred @ MakeMusic]

Hey all-

Looking into the forum format, I agree that it would definitely be a clearer experience to do away with the topics section. Over the next day or so, we will be moving the existing 'loose' topics into their relevant forums- nothing will be deleted! From there out, all topics will be posted within one of the existing forums.

Cheers

Fred

[rbowser]

Hey all-

Looking into the forum format, I agree that it would definitely be a clearer experience to do away with the topics section...

I think that's a good move, Fred. It's easily seen that often people are posting in that catch-all non-categorized section when they could have chosen a specific area that would have been more appropriate. Doing away with that area will clear that issue up nicely. Thanks!

Randy

[Derrek]

Will you be adding categories (like "Christmas Music") to the current categories? What will happen to the read/unread markers when you switch the messages from Topics to a category?

[Fred @ MakeMusic]

Hey All-

Initially, we are only planning to add a "General" forum to the existing list-
This will function as a spot for topics that are music and technology related, but not specifically centered around Garritan- (ex: "Roland A800-Pro Driver...")
The "Off-Topic" forum can then be freed up to be as-such (ex: "The Dungeon, Damsel and Mozart- Music Video", or fun info about the cats of famous composers throughout history...)
The initial thought is to make the forums broad and then drill sown to create further specifics based on feedback-

Also, current "unread" tags should remain intact.

Should we be considering a specific "Garritan Christmas" forum?
Any others forums we should think about adding?

Cheers

Fred

[Fred @ MakeMusic]

Hey all-

We've updated the forum to reflect feedback and requests from the community-
1) Eliminated the general posting area beneath the sub-forums.
2) Added "General" and "Garritan Community Christmas" sub-forums.

All pre-existing posts from the eliminated general area have been retained and sorted to the sub-forums.

Cheers

[Derrek]

Did Off Topic posts get lost or sorted into new folders? (Or will they be shortly restored to the Off Topic folder?)